What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
abolish
Example
The government decided to abolish the death penalty. [abolish: verb]
Example
The company abolished its outdated dress code policy. [abolished: past tense]
cancel
Example
I had to cancel my flight due to bad weather. [cancel: verb]
Example
The customer canceled their subscription to the magazine. [canceled: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Cancel is more commonly used than abolish in everyday language. Cancel is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while abolish is less common and is often reserved for formal or legal contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between abolish and cancel?
Abolish is typically associated with a formal and serious tone, while cancel can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
